How Should I Train My Son?

My 13-year-old has been playing about a year. He's taken to the game and enjoys studying on Chessmaster, reading through chess books & magazines, and, of course, playing. 

It's hard for me to get a gauge on his rating. Here he's something like 1100. On Chessmaster he's around 1000. On most rating exams he takes he ends up in the 1400 range. 

Here's what I have him doing now: play a bunch, study Sillman's "Reasses" for up to 30 minutes a day, and sporadically study tactics, openings, and end games. 

So he really has no formal chess training regimen. I'd like some advise on that. What should his training be like every day? I'd say he has anywhere from 2 to 3 free hours a day to devote to studying chess -- and he has the motivation. 

Also, he's asking about how high his rating can eventually go. No idea. I doubt he'd ever be a GM since he didn't start moving pieces when he was 4 years old. I'm thinking maybe he can get up to Class A or Expert, but I don't know. Any thoughts on that as well? 

Chessmaster is a great introduction to chess, but eventually he'll run out of lessons.  Have you ever thought of getting him a diamond membership here so he'll have access to Chess Mentor?  Many many more courses than Chessmaster and a greater variety of content.  Lots of good videos as well and of course unlimited TT.  Let me give you a link to 25 free ChessMentor courses that will give a great taste of what's available:

http://www.chess.com/blog/webmaster/free-chess-mentor-courses

Grandmaster probably isn't possible but everything else probably is depending on, of course, how hard he's willing to work (although Coach Heisman keeps emphasizing that chess has to be fun or you won't stick with it) and what his natural aptitude for the game is.  If he's really putting 2 to 3 hours a day in, maybe you should get him involved in a scholastic chess program of some sort.  Real chess is OTB tournaments; he'll find out in a hurry if he likes it.  OTH of course you don't want to force him into doing anything.  Hopefully a few of our wiser members will chime in on this thread as well.  I do tend to be Captain Obvious , although I think he'll enjoy those CM courses.

Hmmm, maybe hire him a professional trainer? even chessmasters have, and travel with their trainers.

Thanks, all.

   Train him to be a good human being. That's a lot tougher then teaching him chess.

Teach them manners and chess, not that difficult

   The best suggestion I can give u is watch the movie "searching for Bobby Fisher"

I used to work for the Spanish Federation of Chess teaching Chess at schools.

The main thing is motivation, keep it high.

https://www.chesskid.com/ is the best website for children who like Chess.

Have your child join a chess club. Have him start from the beginning, in this way he will reinforce all his previous knowledge and acquire basic knowledge he didn't have before.

Make sure other children don't ruin the experience for him, some children don't want to be there, and they will make learning Chess impossible. I've seen this happen.

Have him join a tournament as soon as you can, I was an arbiter as well, and I have seen five year old children in tournaments. If he loses, he loses, and he will in his first tournament. Make sure his first loss is not a traumatic experience, tell him it's a game and even Carlsen loses once in a while. Coping with defeat for a youngster is always tough, but it's admirable. My advice is you go do something fun with him after the tournament, he will always remember those moments he shared with his father, sometimes is as simple as sharing a meal together.

Sometimes after his first tournament, children become a human sponge, because his mind will make anything to avoid another terrible defeat. This is what Krashen called "Affective Filter". In this case, it will be down, and he will learn much faster than if he were learning on his own. It's also a good time to teach him other values.

With regards to achieving GM status, he still can, there are real chances if you started before 14. However, it's much better to go step by step.

Apart from that, Check out the works of Jeff Coakley and Dan Heisman.

Any more questions, you just have to ask :)

Another step by step approach is the chess step method. It goes very slowly and very gradually but i think it builds a solid setup for the future (as mr Heisman says, you must learn to walk before you run). I work with my daughters on it. Stepping stones is for kids younger than 8-9 years old, and for older kids (and adults) there is also a training software for self study. My first daughter is 7 and we work on a mix from stepping stones and chess tutor step 1 (I think that an older kid can go through the software without much help). (I am also finishing Chess tutor step 2  myself)

For his age~

Study Checkmates. Gradually build up to 7 moves.

Combinations. Have him study patterns...lots of patterns.

Endgames. Compositional for an challenge. Rudiamentary (opposition, square of a pawn, rook+K, etc)

Simple positional themes. Force, Time, Space, Pawn Structure (King safety)

Build an opening repertoire. I suggest 1. e4 as white (Sicilian Taimanov as black. QGD Tartakower system vs d4)

Integrate advanced Positional strategy ie two bishops, goodknight vs badbish, light square complexes etc etc.

But most of all. Just play. Experience is the best teacher. Record his games. Have him anecdote them as casually as possible (in his own words & thoughts)

8)

As an update to this post, it's been about a year. He's played in 9 tournaments the past year. His provisional USCF rating is around 1225. I just had a 1650 USCF player tell me he thinks my son is more in the 1500 strength range. Not sure if he's that high, but I'm wiling to bet he's in the 1400s. 

With that said, he's having a great time. He recently placed second in a field of 35 high school kids. His one loss was tough, but he wants to learn from it. 

In smaller scholastic tournaments, he's won about four 1st place trophies the past year. 

He studies by reading books, using chess mentor, and taking advantage of the myriad videos via his Diamond Membership here. He plays whenever he can. He doesn't play video games. Chess is his #1 interest. 

Great update. Best wishes

At age 13 I was dating all the girls at my classroom, no wonder why I am unemployed, poor and waste my time on this forums.

he has been at the coal face of chess and come back with enthusiasm , thats great , otb is where gms are made ,

contact his school ask about after school chess and if they cant set it up or dont have it ask tem who nearest does ,

location must be convenient though as long chess and lomg journeys will affect his schooling and your time too

monitor or limit access internet to ensure an enviorment where he can play happy and avoid internet downsides ,

Another update:

Daniel turns 16 in March. 

He continues to grow in chess strength. His current USCF rating is 1602.

He loves the game like crazy and plays/studies almost daily. A few months ago we invested in a chess coach (via Skype), and he's also played in many more rated tournaments. 

In 2016 he played in 15 regular rated tournaments. The small, scholastic tournaments are too weak for him, so he plays primarily in "adult" tournaments now.

He also became a US Chess tournament director and is the primary club director for the Waco Chess Club. 

I am no match for him anymore. At some point soon, I'm going to have him start to give me chess lessons. For real! :-) 

He still doesn't play video games (except an occasional NCAA College Football or Madden), and is solely interested in chess. He does enjoy playing outside, tinkering with a guitar, and watching/playing football. 

He should be happy if he gets to 2000 by the age of 20.

Unless he has a very low aptitude for the game, he should cross 2000 much sooner.   

That was not my statement. Check what Carlsen has to say when someone asks him the same question. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUcDR-qPuBg#t=3m55s (3:55)